An ethereal and haunting photographic portrait of a sky that looks like it’s on fire is the City of Armadale’s newest treasure.
Brad Rimmer’s ‘Sometimes I Wish #13’ was selected as the winner of the $12,000 City of Armadale acquisition award at the 27th Minnawarra Art Awards.
The prestigious awards showcase some of the best Western Australian artists and features a curated exhibition as the centrepiece of the Armadale Arts Festival.
This year renowned gallery owner and artist Ron Nyisztor was welcomed back as curator. There are 67 artists exhibited, including 18 local artists.
“The Minnawarra Art Awards are a highlight of the thriving arts scene that we have here in the City. For 27 years we have hosted these awards, and the works submitted showcase a wide range of contemporary talent from across WA. Thank you to all those who submitted entries and congratulations to our 2024 winners,” Mayor Ruth Butterfield said.
Miik Green took out the Gerry Gauntlett Award and its $5000 prize with ‘endless nameless0224’.
“The gently shimmering surface and looping form of Miik Green’s ‘endless nameless0224’ has no beginning or end. Drawing viewers into the shadows at its centre, the work shapes a three-dimensional musical path,” the judges said.
While proud Nhanda descendant Renee Rose’s work ‘Sunrise’ was named the winning entry for the $3000 Aboriginal Artist Award. The judges said they were ‘compelled’ by her intricately painted work that “encourages close and slow viewing to offer a shifting feel of the landscape”. ‘Sunrise’ was also acquired by the city.
Local artist and member of the Beananging Kwuurt Institute Lesley Murray won the Local Artist Award with her artwork ‘Light over the water – on Country’.
While Naomie Hatherley’s work ‘The code’ received the Highly Commended prize, given to an artwork which displays conceptual significance and creative inspiration.
The exhibition will be open for viewing in the Kim Fletcher Gallery at the Armadale District Hall, from 11am to 4pm daily until May 19.
Photographs – Richard Polden
